Bookholder



Sept. 1, 1931. E. J. SITI-@ENS I 1,821,279 Y BOOKHOLDER Filed April ze,1929 2 sheets-Sheet 1 t Qn ` l INVENToR N n BY W ATTORNEY gp. w31.

E. J. SITHENS BOOKHOLDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2' Filed April 26, 1929 NN msINVENTOB E Sa/e126 ATTORNEY yPatented Sept.- 1, 1931 Y f i UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE EDWARD J. SITHENS, O GYNWYD, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TAMERICAN TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

BOOKHOLDER Application filed April 26, 1929. Serial No. 358,261.

This invention relates to book holders, an compartments, this number maybe reduced object of the invention being to provide a or increased asmay be required. The inholder for a series of books or binders to clinedpartitions 6 may be in the form of contain the books, such as telephonedirecflat Strips of wood or the like, and the upper tories or the like,so that they occupy a ends` thereof register in slots provided in 'g5small space and are separated in such manthe inclined front surface ofthe triangular ner as to be conveniently accessible for use. block 7,which is fixed to the under side of Another object of the invention isto prothe horizontaljtop portion of the casing 5. vide a 'pivotalmounting for the books so, The lower ends of the partitions 6 register10 that they may be pulled out of the holder in slots in the block 8,and also in slots pro- 50 into position for use and pushed back intovided on the inner surface of the front wall the holder after beingused. 9 of the casing. The end or outer partitions A further object isto provide mechanism are positioned near thev side walls 10 of the forthe retention of the books to prevent Casing and are each connected by apanel their loss or misplaceinent. 1]. to the inclined front edges ofthe side 55 The novel features which are considered walls 1 0. The widthof the end or outer characteristic of this invention are set forthpartitions is slightly less than the width of With particularity in theappended claim. their companion or intermediate partitions The inventionitself, both as to its organizato permit the panels to be positioned sothat tion and method of operation, together with :their outer surfaceswill be in alignment with 70' other objects andvadvantages thereof, willthe outer front edges of the adjacentpartibe further explained in thefollowing detions.V The panels and partitions thus cotailed descriptionhaving reference to the operate to provide a uniform inclinedsupaccompanying drawings consisting of ythe )ort or ledge for the bookswhen withdrawn following figures: rom the casing and-opened, and form ares't- 75 Figure 1 is a view in transverse section ing position`therefor at an angle at which on the line 1-1 .of Fig. 2; t they may bereadily and easily consulted.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the improved The forward edges of theintermediate pardevice with parts broken away to show the .titionsandthe inner-edges of the panels 1.1'

3o interior thereof g may be provided with eut-away portions or s0 Fig.3 i's a. rear elevation of the device -accesses 12 to enable theextended book with part of the panel broken away; .corners 13 to begrasped and the books Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the device,withdrawn from the compartments. y showing a book supported in openedposi- In the present instance the book 14 is tion and ready for use. ,lshown as being contained in abinder 15,' 85

, A casing 5, which is preferably of wood which is normally positionedWithin one of ,although it may be of other suitable mathe compartments.The term binder is terial, is provided and supports and parused toindicate the part 15, as the primary tially encloses the books. Thiseasing is object of the invention is to support telesubstantiallyrectangular in form and its phone books or the like, and a binder such90 upper inclined front portion is open to peras illustrated isconvenient for this purpose.

A mit the withdrawal and replacement of However, it is not desired tolimit this inbooks. The casing is supported on a suitvention to theelnployment of any particu able base. lar,binder, as it is to beunderstood that any A plurality of inclined partitions 6 are binder orbook itself may be utilized, and 95 provided in thecasing 5 to form asmany in the employment of this term binder book compartments and of suchwidth as hereinafter it will be understood that it is may be desired. Itwill be understood that; used in its broadest sense. The binder 15although in the present instance the immay be pivotally connected to theeasing proved book holder is equipped with three by a hinge 16 `whichhas one of its straps 100 suitably connected to one end of the back ofthe binder. The other strap of the hinge may be permanently screwed orremovably mounted to the inner inclined surface of the front wall 9, asdesired. In the case of the removable mounting, which permits the binderand its hinge to be removed from the casing, the strap of such hinge isprovided with slots 17 having enlarged openings. The enlarged openingsallow the strap to be inserted over the heads of parallel screws 18carried by the inclined rear surface of the front wall 9 in such mannerthat they may be readily detached therefrom when desired. The pivotalmounting for the binder also acts as a support, and permits it to beswung outwardly in an are from its compartment so that it may assume theposition shown in Fig. 4.

Each compartment formed by the partitions 11 is provided with a strap 19which is positioned toward the lower portion 'of the casing. Thesestraps may be composed from corded fabric or other suitable material.The straps serve as a support and stop for the books or binders in Whichthey are contained, and act as shock absorbers to check the fall andminimize the noise of the books when they are restored to their positionWithin the casing. The straps also minimize the Wear and tear on thebooks. One end of the straps is secured to the top of the block 8 b astrip of molding 20. This molding lies between the partitions and may besecured by'serews to the block 8 so thatA the end of a strap is clampedbetween these elements. Each of the straps 19 is wound about a core 21which lies in a transverse position within the casing, as more clearlyshown in Fig. 1. The ends of the core 21 lie in openings provided inside plates 22 which are aixed to the inner surface of the side walls10. A strip of molding 23 is secured to the top of the core 21 which hasa slot provided therein for each of the straps 19. These slots ermit thepassage of the straps therethroug but prevent undue transverse movementof the straps on the core 22.` The other ends of the straps 19 are eachsecured to an end of a turnbuckle 24, and this in turn is connected to aspring member 25, which is secured to theblock 8. The turnbuckle servesto adjust the straps 19 to the required lengths, and the springsmaintain the desired tension on said straps.

A chain 26 or other suitable means may be attached to the core 21 and tothe back edge of the book or binder to prevent it from being pulled toofar out of the coinpartmentv in which it is normally located.

The casing 5 is provided with a rear panel 27 which is hinged to thebase so that theI panel may be swung outwardly to permit` access to theinterior of the easing. Thei top ofthe panel in normal or closed posi-:tion abuts the vertical rear face of the block clears the partitions,it may be opened andinthis position supported on the inclined partitionsand panels.

The directory or other book may be restored to its normal position inthe cabii net, by merely closing it. This action causes such directoryor book to fall back by gravity into its compartment and the shockabsorbers check its fall and minimize the noise thereof.

lVhat is claimed is:

A book holder including a casing having an enclosed substantiallyrectangular bottom portion and a cut away partially open upper portion,partitions in said casmg forming Acompartments to receive books or thelike,"{.*,said partitions having inclined edges and extending-across theopen portion in a direction perpendicular to and connecting the upperand lower edges of the cut away portion, a pivotal member afiixed to thecasing and adapted to be attached to a bottom corner of a book and onwhich the book may be rotated outwardly, and panel' members secured tothe sides of the casing and extending in a plane parallel to the edgesof the partitions to form with the partition edges an inclined supportfor a book when withdrawn from a compartment and opened, the book whenclosed being adapted to fall back in its compartment by gravity.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this22 day of April 1929.

. EDWARD J. SITHENS.

u CERTIFICATE or connacrloN.

Parent No. 1,821,279; Granted september 1, 1931, to

EDWARD J.'s1rnENs.

It is hereby certified that the above numbered patent was erroneouslyissued to "American Telephone and Telegraph Company, a corporation ofNew York", as

` assignee of the entire interest in said invention, whereas said patentshould have been issued to the inventor, said Sitheus, as sole owner ofsaid invention; and

that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction thereinthat the same may conform to the record of the case inf-the PatentOffice. Signed and sealed this 22nd day of'Decembe'rf A. D. 1931.

.A M. J. Moore. (Seal) l Acting Commissioner of Patents.

